Parental Perspectives on Prolonged Bottle Feeding and Bed Sharing

Parents welcome educational interventions to support safe child care practices.

Prolonged bottle feeding (beyond age 12 months) is associated with excessive milk intake and iron deficiency in toddlers. Therefore, the AAP recommends that infants should be introduced to a cup at 6 months and fully weaned from a bottle by 15 months. A U.S. survey published in 2005 indicated that Mexican American toddlers have the highest prevalence of prolonged bottle feeding and iron deficiency (37% and 17%, respectively, vs. 17% and 6% of white toddlers and 14% and 8% of black toddlers). The AAP also advises against bed sharing to reduce the risk for sudden infant death syndrome, yet up to 45% of caregivers sleep with their infants for some portion of the night. The highest rates are among blacks, Latinos, and Asians. Two qualitative st…

Reviewing Author

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Martin T. Stein, MD

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardPearson Neuroscience Advisory Board

Speaker’s bureauAmerican Academy of Pediatrics

RoyaltiesElsevier, Inc.

Editorial boardsJournal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics